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In a blow to the Northland area's efforts at revival, Kohl's officials have confirmed that the
store at 1700 Morse Rd. will close on Feb. 26.

"That's a definite loss to the community," said Roseann Hicks, president of the Northland Area
Business Association. "I happen to be an avid Kohl's shopper myself. We're sad to see them go."

All employees at the store have been offered positions at nearby Kohl's locations. Those who
choose not to move are being offered severance packages, said Vicki Shamion, senior vice president
of public and community relations at Kohl's.

"The Morse Road store is an isolated closing," Shamion wrote in an e-mail. "Store closings,
relocations and new store openings are all market-driven decisions that fit the needs of our
customers and our business."

Word of the closing had begun circulating in the Northland business last month, but the
confirmation didn't come until this week, Hicks said.

"Our goal is to make sure we're maintaining a family-friendly business community in Northland,"
Hicks said. "I wish we had had an opportunity to address some of their concerns beforehand. I'd
like to continue to work with them."

Dave Cooper, chairman of the Northland Alliance, also lamented the loss.

"It's unfortunate, when we are just starting to see the (property) across the street turn around
so nicely," said Cooper, referring to the old Northland Mall site. "I think the timing is rather
strange when there is the potential of many, many, many customers."

In the past five years, Kohl's has added 11 stores in Ohio, including six in the Columbus area,
Shamion said, and has not closed any local stores until the decision was made on the Morse Road
location.

After the closing, Kohl's will have 14 Columbus area locations. Kohl's has 55 stores in
Ohio.

Hicks said that another Kohl's, at 4865 N. Hamilton Rd., near Morse and Hamilton roads, is
slightly less than 6 miles east and "still in the Northland area."

Cooper said that recent announcements about the redevelopment of the old Northland Mall complex
and other areas mean that, even with the Kohl's closing, "we're moving forward, and we're excited
about the future."